Page 21 of The Gambler

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It had been years since he’d been to Brian’s place. The resident leader of the Irish mob was into gambling and specialized in underground fights. Some called him the Last Crusader because he was said to be fair, but went for the sword when you crossed him. Even before his incarceration, Luca hadn’t been much into this world. The only gambling he did was by card; poker, more specifically. He found back alley fights beneath him.

That is, until he’d had to learn to defend his back in jail. Until he’d learned that a suit didn’t make a man a man. When all his so-called friends had abandoned him. None of the polished, ten-thousand-dollar suit guys in fast cars had ever visited him. The only ones, besides his family, that had visited him were the twins. It was behind bars he’d learned the value of true friends.

He closed the door to reminiscing the old days as they entered Brian’s warehouse at the docks. Judging by the men guarding it, it was a busy night. Tess walked by his side with a determined expression on her face. An expression that didn’t bode well.

“Let me handle this,” he warned.

“I will give you one chance,” she replied. “Though I can’t say I’m very confident in your abilities to best this Brian O’Connell person. After all, he’s a Crusader and you are”—she gave him a once-over—“well, you aren’t exactly on his level. If he doesn’t go for the money to let Mick hand over my dad, I don’t think you can make him.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? And since when do you know about Brian’s nickname?”

She rolled her eyes. “I know a lot of things. Anything you want to find about anyone is accessible once you have a name. I copied Mick’s phone during our first visit. From there on, I followed the breadcrumbs. It was child’s play, really.”

It irked him that she saw him as less of a man than the twins or even Brian, a guy she hadn’t even met yet. He saw it in the way she’d looked at Angel and Damon. There was a little fear and a slight hint of awe there. The look she gave him was more… passive. Worst of it was, he didn’t even know why he cared. Perhaps because he’d never met a woman before who made him feel… less.

It’s because you’ve never met a woman before who wasn’t impressed by your looks, cars, and jet-set lifestyle.

He hushed that voice in his head and came to a halt when one of Brian’s men stopped them in front of a door.

“Don’t do anything stupid when we get in,” he warned her.

“Define stupid.”

He didn’t trust her innocent look for one second. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with here. Not really. People aren’t what they seem on a computer screen. Data doesn’t make a person. Brian has a way of dealing with people. He hates liars or rude people. Both men and women pay him with blood and sweat. Men, usually by fighting in the ring. Women, by working on their back, if you get my drift. So, when we get inside, let me do the talking.”

Tess grumped a bit but didn’t contradict him. He was pleased that she was smart enough to shut her trap.

He exchanged a few words with the guard, and then they were let inside.

Two men sat around a square table. Behind them was a desk with several large screens, no doubt giving an overview of the several bets that were going on. Brian had a finger in a lot of pots, from real-life gambling to online poker. Luca immediately recognized the man. He was as large as a warrior back in the days, with a beard and barrel chest. His arms were covered in tattoos and a large cross was burned in his neck. No one knew who’d done that. No one was stupid enough to ask him to his face. Two large, bald men stood behind him. Next to him sat a rat-faced man in a green tracksuit. Must be Mick, judging by the scowl he gave Tess.

“That’s him,” she exclaimed loudly. “Mick the Dick.”

The dick in question jumped from his chair. “What did you just call me?”

Tess frowned. “Oh, did I say that out loud? I sometimes do that, though I’m working on it. You know, to not broadcast everything that comes into my mind. I know some people find it offensive.”

Mick gave her a dazed look. “What?”

“But to answer your question, yes, I called you a dick. Mick the Dick, to be more specific. Because you are one.”

Fucking hell.

When Mick stepped forward, Luca positioned himself in front of Tess. Sure, she deserved her ass to be slapped, but not by Mick.

Or any other man but me.

Brian made a sound and his enforcer stopped in his tracks.

“You’re gonna pay for that, little girl,” Mick spat.

“I can’t because sadly, you already have all my hard stolen money.” Then she looked at Brian. “I know who you are, Mr. O’Connell. It’s very nice to meet you. I tried to contact you after the first time Mick ripped me off, when I gave him the money to release my dad. I’ve heard you are an honest man and, like all thieves, I’m sure you have a code of honor.”

Fuck. This was going even worse than he’d pictured.

“Tess.” He grabbed her arm and pushed her behind him. She was going to get herself killed.

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